Binding clip



March `25, 1941. w, R, MEIER 2,236,106

BINDING CLIP Filed June 29, 1938 INVENTOR.

Y Y AfITRNEY.

Wali'er 1?. Meier' lll imatentecl Mar.. 2.5, 1941 PATENT GFFICE BINDINGCLIP Walterlt. Meier, Lincoln, Nebr. Application .lune 29, I1938, SerialNo. 216,511 3 Claims. `(Cl. 281-25) My invention relates to clips forbinding a plurality of individual leaves or signatures into book form,one of its objects beingthe provision of a clip which makes unnecessarythe sewing ofthe book.

Another of my objects is the provision of a clip which may be appliedtobind leaves or signatures into book form to maintain the individualleaves or signatures against slipping in any direction.

Another object which I have in View is the provision oi a clip which isadapted to pass through the individual leaves or signatures to hold themagainst shifting in directions parallel to each other, the clips havingbendable means for holding the leaves or signatures in clampingrelation.

Another of my objects is the provision of a binding clip of simpledesign, low cost of production, and of easy application without thenecessity of using special tools, the clips being also adapted for usewith special tools when the circumstances make it desirable ornecessary.

Another of my objects is the provision of a binding clip which isespecially well adapted to securing a tape when it is desired to providethe book with hinged covers.

Having in View these objects and others which will be pointed out in thefollowing description, I will now refer to the drawing, in which Figurel is a view of the blank from which my clip is made, the view being inplan but slightly oblique to disclose thickness of the material.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the iinished clip and ready for use.

Figure 3 is another similar view but showing the ears turned down at oneend, the form as shown in Figure 3 being the most suitable for theapplication by hand of the binding clip.

Figure l is a view similar to Figures 1, 2, and 3 but showing the clipin the binding form.

Figure 5 is a sectional View showing the application of the clip forbinding together a plurality of individual sheets of paper.

Figure 6 is a view in isometric projection showing the application ofthe clips for binding together a plurality of signatures, the use of thetape being also shown when it is desired to provide the book with hingedcovers.

Figure 71's a View similar to Figure 5 but showing the use of the clipfor providing round backs for the books.

Figure 8 is a sectional view showing the relation of the natures.

Theblank shown in Figure l includesV a body portion I il 4and two wingsII on opposite sides of the body portion. The whole Adevice is cut out 5of a single sheet of metal or similar material of rectangular form. Thecorners of the blank are cut away and notches are cut at the fourcorners of the body portion. This results in the blank having clampingears I2 at opposite ends 10 of the body portion and similar `clampingears I3 at opposite ends of the wings II. The clip is formed from thisblank by bendingthe two wings II into convergent relation with ,eachother as shown in Figure 2 `and as shown in section in 15 Figure 8.

VWhen the `device is the Figure2 form .it is in condition forapplication for the purpose of binding together a number of sheets orsignatures into book form. When the clip is to be 2o applied by hand,the book should first be provided with saw cuts or other slits or kerfsas best shown in Figure 8. The angle of these cuts should be similar tothat of the wings II. The entire clip may be then thrust through the saw25 cuts so that the ears I2 and I3 project beyond the front and backleaves of the book. For hand insertion the Figure 3 form is preferablebecause it is possible to apply the pressure of the thumb to force theclip through the saw cuts. 30 If the clip is to be applied by means of atool or machine without previously forming the saw cuts, the Figure 2form will have certain advantages. In either case, the ears I2 and I3are then bent down to completely clamping action.

The clips are generally formed of a length such that the body portionlil has a length which is substantially equal to the thickness of thebook. Considerable latitude, however, is permitted since the ears I2andlt may be forced down into 40 clamping relation with the book if thethickness of the book is somewhat greater than the length of the bodyportion I. As shown in Figure 6, the result is a slit which extends aslight distance inward along the back of the book. By 45 thus having anassortment` of clips of various sizes, it is possible to bind paperstogether of any desired thickness of the book with the leaves orsignatures rigidly bound together in book form. 50

The preferred material is sheet steel because of its thinness and greatstrength. Ordinarily it extends across the back of the book to projectslightly beyond the book because of the slight thickness of thematerial. In other Words, the

clips to the individual sheets or sigbook is very slightly wider at theclips than between the clips. This is ordinarily unobjectionable, but ifit is necessary that the back of the book be continuous, it is onlynecessary to cut away a notched portion of the leaves or signatures atthe back of the book to a thickness equal to that of the material of theclip as shown in Figure 8. Other materials having the requisitequalities may, of course, be used in the place of sheet steel.

When it is desired to provide the book With hinged covers, the clip isadmirably adapted for the use of the tape commonly employed in securinghinged covers to books. The tape I4 passes underneath the clip as shownin Figures 6 and 7, leaving projecting portions which may' be secured tothe covers of the books. .'Ihe clips may also be adapted for providinground backs as shown in Figure 7, it being only necessary to subject theclip to a second forming operation by bending them into curved formabout the transverse axis. By accomplishing this bending operationthrough a conventional die stamping process, the body portion will flowsufliciently to prevent buckling of the wings Il. The back of the bookWill then have the form shown in Figure '7.

Having thus described my invention in such full, clear, and exact termsthat its construction and operation Will be readily understood by othersskilled in the art to which it pertains, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, a plurality of leaves or signatures assembled in bookform, the leaves or signatures being provided with angularly disposedregistering slits projecting inwardly from the back edges thereof, aclip including a pair of angularly disposed wings seated in the slits ofthe leaves or signatures, a body portion connecting said Wings, clampingears projecting from the extremities of said Wings and said body portionand bent down into clamping engagement against the front and rearsurfaces of the book, and a tape passing through said clip andprojecting beyond both extremities thereof, said tape being adapted forsecuring covers to the book.

2. A binding clip of bendable material having a body portion and a pairof integral wings projecting from the sides thereof in acute angularrelation thereto, said body portion being adapted to be seated againstthe back of a book with said wings seated in kerfs at the back edgeportion of the book, said body portion being cut away at the top andbottom adjacent each wing to provide ears on each end of said bodyportion and Wings adapted to be bent into clamping engagement with saidbook, and each of said ears on said body portion being of a trapezoidalshape corresponding to the area between said Wings to form asubstantially continuous clamping surface with the ears of said Wings.

3. In combination; a plurality of leaves or signatures assembled in bookform, the leaves or signatures being provided With angularly disposedregistering slits projecting inwardly from the back edges thereof, aclip including a pair of angularly disposed wings seated in the slits oithe leaves or signatures, a body portion connecting said Wings, meansassociated with opposite ends of said clip for clamping said leaves orsignatures together, and a tape passing through said clip and projectingbeyond both extremities thereof, said tape being adapted for securingcovers to the book.

WALTER R. MEIER.

